Modeling of dynamic train–bridge interaction in high-speed railways

For analyzing the dynamic interaction problem of a train passing a railway bridge with high speed, a substructure approach is presented taking into account the influence of rail irregularities. Modal analysis provides a description of the finite element bridge model in modal space with a small number of degrees of freedom. The train is modeled as a sequence of multibody mass–spring–damper systems. A linear interaction model in the context of a component mode synthesis method is used for coupling the two substructures. In a numerical example, the dynamic response of a single-span steel bridge subjected to a high-speed train is analyzed showing the efficiency of the proposed approach. The results of this example demonstrate the importance of considering rail irregularities for a reliable prediction of the acceleration response.